Educational device and method fob



1 Original Filed April 18, 1932 :5 She'ets-Sheet 1 vbmes 1. Taqlor QM L v\\ N N R n w. w om V I l u 1 u q v m MN w, NN 1 n 3 .l hhflli! l nnnnn.. .0 o M.\JJ h 5 x 2. :a as. =51; Q Wmmr I U O\ mw Dec. 29 1936. J. Y. TAYLOR EDUCATIONALDEVICE AND MET HOD FOR THE TREATIIENT OP EYES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 18, 1932 Dec. 29, 1936. J TAYLOR 20,223

EDUCATIONAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF EYES Original Filed April 18. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Reissued Dec. 29, 1936 PATENT OFFICE EDUCATIONAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT ms James Y. Taylor, Sonthbrldge, Maia, asaignor,

by direct and meane assignments, to Educational Laboratories, Inc., Brownwood, 'lex., a

corporation of Texas Original No. 1,918,298, dated July 18, 1933, Serial No. 605,878, April 18, 1932.

Application for reissue June 14, 1935, Serial No. 26,645

19 Claims. (01. 128-251 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in educational devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for strengthening, developing and innervating the muscles, nerves and structures of the eyes and their attachments, by causing successive fixation movements of a person's eyes through the intermittent, successive exposure of symbols or groups of symbols positioned within the field of vision of the eyes accompanied by a blocking off of the preceding exposure so that the eyes cannot retreat.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for successively exhibiting and concealing indicia whereby the observer's eye travels from left to right across the face of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exhibiting machine having an elongated window in its front wall and having a strip or roll, with indicia or symbols printed thereon, so mounted within the machine that the entire strip may be displayed, line by line, through the window, and to provide means for operating panels which successively close portions of the window to cover portions of the indicia or symbols on the strip, and thereby force the pupil's eye to travel from left to right across the face of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for actuating the strip or exhibitor to bring the next line of the same into view after the panels have been operated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the panels may be operated rapidly enough to allow the word or words to be visible only for a moment, thus teaching the pupil to instantly recognize the word.

Figure l is a front view of the machine, partly in elevation and partly in section,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view looking from the rear of the machine,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is 'a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail of the removable carrying roller mounting,

Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged details of the automatic cut-off switch,

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail of the spacer roller actuating means,

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line I l l I of Figure 2 and showing the plunger shifting means,

Figure 12 is a detail of the reversible clutch, and

Figure 13 is a detail of the winding roller and one end of the strip, showing means for securing said end to the roller.

Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view of the same and taken on line ll-llof Figure 13.

In the drawings the numeral ll .designates an upright casing having a bottom II and provided with a door I! in its rear wall to permit the easy insertion or removal of the rolls hereinafter mentioned.

A horizontally elongated sight opening or window I3 is provided in the front wall of the easing near its top. Within the casing, a removable supply roller II is mounted in standards I! which are secured to the floor of thecasing and extend upwardly within the same. The roller ll carries a strip of cloth, paper or other suitable material It on which is printed a series of but are held against horizontal displacement.

The friction rollers ride on the spacer roller ll to hold the strip l6 tightly against the same.

The end of the strip I6 is then secured to a winding roller I! which is supported by arms 20,

extending rearwardly from the standards i5 (Figs. 3, 4, and 5). The winding roller is provided with a T slot and one end of the strip l6 carries a key II which engages in said slot of the roller (Figs. 13 and 14). Thus when the key engages the slot the strip it may be wound around the roller, but the key will automatically disengage itself from the roller when the strip is being rewound, as will hereinafter be explained.

of the stub shaft carries a gear l2'- which drives a gear 83' on the shaft of the carrying roller,

' a contact 65 which will complete the circuit to again start the motor which has been stopped by the breaking of the contacts 48 and 4! due to the spring 45, dropping thru the slot 43 in the chart into the groove 44 of the idler roller. The shifting of the rod 5 I, as hereinbefore explained, shifts the clutch 50, whereby the strip is rewound on the roller.

The rod 5| also carries cams 68 which engage in slots 61 in the friction roller plungers ii to raise the same when the rod is pulled outwardly. Thus the friction rollers Ii are lifted from the spacer roller it when the chart is being rewound on the carrying roller.

The carrying roller I4 is made removable so that a chart containing different material may replace the same. It is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to charts carrying educational indicia, such as words, phrases, arithmetic, or the like, but a chart carrying advertising material can be inserted in the machine whereby the device can be used for any form of progressive advertising. The mounting of the roller I4 is shown in detail in Figure 7. At one end the roller is provided with a square socket i! which receives the squared shaft 69.

pressing the pin 13.

It is not always necessary to operate the panels 2i when using the machine and it has been found that at times the machine may be used to better advantage by eliminating the use of these panels. For swinging the feet 25 of the plungers 2| out of the path of the cams 26 I provide wings I5 on the rear of the plungers 24. A horizontal rod 16 siidably supported in the standard I5 has one end extending thru the outer wall of the casing l0. As shown in Fig. 11, the rod is provided with fingers l1 which, when the rod is pulled outwardly, engage the wings to swing the feet out of the path of the cams 26 due to the spring coupling 23. Should any of the cams 26 be in such a position as to prevent its respective foot 25 from swinging back to its normal position when the rod is again pushed inwardly, the spring coupling 23 would serve to hold said foot against the side of the cam until the cam revolves around to a position which will allow said foot to spring into place in the path of said cam.

The method of operation of the apparatus described is as follows:

A roller ll having the strip IS in which suitable or desired indicia or symbols are carried is placed in the machine and the first line of indicia is positioned opposite the window I! as has been described above. The electric motor is then started which operates the panels in front of the window. As has been brought out above,

the operating mechanism is designed to operate the panels in chronological sequence in the direction of reading. In other words, the panel on the left is moved to display the symbol or symbols on the strip It so that the patient's eyes are fixated on the left hand symbol first. This panel closes, thereby shutting oil the view of the symbols and the middle panel is actuated to display the symbols on the strip it behind the middle panel. This causes the patients eyes to be directed to the middle of the'window thereby causing a fixation laterally removed from the first fixation as the patient would do in ordinary reading. The middle panel is then actuated to close the middle portion of the window and the panel on the right is next actuated to display the symbol or symbols behind this right hand panel thereby causing the eyes to make another lateral fixation.

It will be noted that the symbol or symbols behind each panel are displayed only momentarily, training the patient to concentrate and fix his attention on only those symbols displayed and to thereby stimulate and innervate the muscles, nerves and structures of the eyes and their attachments.

From the foregoing description it is clear that when the panel on the left is lowered to allow the first words or symbols of the line to be seen,

the middle and right hand panels are in their raised or closed positions. As the left hand panel rises the middle panel is lowered and the panel on the right remains closed, or in its raised position.

Then, as the middle panel rises to again shut the words off from view, the right hand panel lowers and the panel on the left remains in its topmost position. Thus, only one third of each line is visible at a time. This is an important feature of the invention, as it stimulates, in-. nervates and develops the eye structures of the patient by the progressive use of these structures in a manner to increase the patient's reading efliciency.

The speed of operation of the panels may be increased as the visual emciency of the patient increases, so that the tendency of the patient to develop regressive eye movements are eliminated. In other words the patient is trained to always fixate his eyes on symbols until he has a visual perception thereof and then move his eyes forward to see the next symbol or group of symbols and not to look back over words already read.

It will be apparent that the size of the panels or the amount of symbols or indicia covered by each of the panels may be made or varied to any suitable size so that the reading span of the person may be accommodated as his reading efficiency is developed. In other words, the apparatus may be varied to show as many symbols at one time as the visual perceptive function of the patient is able to completely grasp. Then also by varying the speed of the operation of the panels the reading efliciency of a person may readily be developed.

The operation of the device is described as successively exposing symbols from left to right as that is the direction in which most languages are read. It will be obvious that the mechanism may be altered to progressively and successively expose the symbols before the patient so that his eye movements will be substantially identical with those of the patient when reading his accustomed language.

The broad concept of the invention contemplates the intermittent timed exposure of the nectedorder.

symbolsorgroupsof symbolsorindiciaembracing'predetermined angles ofvisioninaspacedprogression in the direction of normal reading of the person being trained; that is, the order in I which the symbolsof the language are normally placed in order to It is apparent from the foregoing description of the apparatus that when the panels operate successively to expose the symbols or groups of symbols behind the corresponding sections of the window. that the sections'of reading matter or symbols are exposed substantially, instantaneously and in their entirety, said sections serving as progressive fixation steps, whereby the eyes move from one point of fixation to another within the limits of said exposed sections. The inter-- mittent successive exercise and innervate the eye muscular and nerve structures by causing the eyes to reconverge on the successive points of fixation since the eyes tend to return to their position of relaxation during the time interval between the exposed sectiolmwhich time intervals correspond to the. commonly known motion blindness of eyes which exists during their period of movement from one object to another. Since the preceding, sections are screened on before the next succeeding section is exposed, the

eyes are prevented from returning to the pre-' ceding section and thus regressive movements of the eyes are greatly discouraged.

- The description which has been given, recites of the appended claims. without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having illustrated and described a preferred form of the invention, what I claim. is:

1. In an educational device. a casing having a window, an exhibitor mounted within the casing and bearing indicia or symbols for display through the window. panels carried by the casing and closing said window, means for operating said panels in sequence from left to right, whereby portions of each line of indicia are displayed in sequence.

2. In an educational device. a casing having a window, a strip mounted within the casing and bearing indicia or symbols for display thruthe window, means foropening and closing sections of the window, means for operating said pening and closing means in sequence from left to right whereby portions of each line of indicia are displayed in sequence, and means for actuating the strip whereby the next line of indicia becomes visible thru the window after the preceding line is displayed.

3. In an educational device, a casing having a window, a strip mounted within the casing and bearing indicia or symbols for display through said window, panels within the casing and closing said window, movable members connected to said panels, means for actuating said members in sequence whereby the panels are successively raised and lowered in sequence from left to right to exhibit portions of each line of indicia in sequence.

4. In an educational device. a casing having a window, an exhibitor mounted within the casing and bearing indicia or symbols for display through said window. panels within the casing and closing some present a sequential and con-.

right, and means for v the ,frorntlmcas'natoallowthe enti'relinetobevis- 6..In an educational devicaacasing having a window, a carrying r'ollerwithin the casing,

an idler roller withinthecasing'andabovethe' carryingrollenaspacerrollerwithinthem ingabovetheidlerroller,awindingrollerwithin sively bro l t into view before said window.

7. In'aneducational device. acaslnghavings window, acarrying roller within the casing, an idlerrollerwithinthecasingabovethecarrying roilenaspacerroller withinthecasingand above theidlerroller,awindingrollerwithinthecasing below and behind the spacer roller, a strip having indiciaor symbols thereon mounted on the carrying roller-andpassingoversaididler andspacer rollers,.andhaving its other end detachably secured to said winding roller,'-panels within the casingcloslng thewindow, means foropening and closing said panels in sequence from left to right, whereby portions of each line of indicia are displayedinsequenee,astarwheelmountedon thespacerrollershaftandhavingradialslots' therein, a cam dishmounted by a stub shaft and havinga-pin on its outer ed8e..said pinengaging inslotsinsaidstarwheeltorotatethesame whereby the spacer roller is revolved to individually andsuccessively display each line of indicia 8. A displaydevice comprising, an up sht casing having a window. an exhibitor mounted within the casing for display through said window. means for moving said exhibitor to 118911! different portions thereof through said window. means for opening and closing separate sections of the window, and means for operating said closing means, whereby said separate sections may besuccessivelyopenedand closedfromleftto right.

9. In an educational device, a casing having a window, an exhibitor mounted within the casing to and bearing indicia or symbols for display through the window, means for opening and closing separate sections of the window in sequencefrom left to right, and means for operating said opening and closing means in sequence, whereby 75 separate sections of the window are opened in sequence to display portions of each line of indiciaandareclosed afterthedisplayofeach portion.

10 In an educational device, a casing having a window, a strip mounted within the casing and bearing indicia or symbols for display through the window, means for passing the strip before the window, means for opening and closing separate sections of the window, and means for operating said opening and closing means, whereby separate sections of the window are opened in sequence from left to right to display portions of each line of indicia and closed 11. In a device of the character described, means for intermittently and substantially instantaneously exhibiting within the direct field of vision and in the direction of reading of a person a plurality of fixation indicia in spaced progression and sequence, means for successively blanking out the previously exhibited indicia with each successive exhibition of new indicia whereby the eyes following said exhibitions will break fusion at one point and move through a predetermined angle and establish fusion at an advanced point spaced therefrom in the direction of reading, said blanking out means being so formed as to leave'no formed character in the blanked out portion for the eyes to regress to, whereby the eyes may follow through said predetermined angle with the movement thereof simulating their movement during reading and means for halting for a definite period said successive exhibitions whereby the eyes may move from one exposure to another in step by step progression in rhythmic motion.

. 12. In a device of the character described, means for intermittently and substantially instantaneously exhibiting in a single plane within the direct field of vision and in the direction of reading of a person a plurality of fixation indicia related in progressive reading context and in spaced progression and sequence, means for successively blanking out the previous exhibited indicia with each successive exhibition of new indicia whereby the eyes following said exhibitions will break fusion at one point and move through a predetermined angle and establish fusion at an advanced point spaced therefrom in the direction of reading, said blanking out means being so formed as to leave no formed character in the blanked out portion for the eyes to regress to, whereby the eyes may follow through said predetermined angle with the movement thereof simulating their movement during reading and means for halting for a definite period, said successive exhibitions of indicia whereby the eyes may move from one exposure to another in step by step progression in rhythmic motion.

13. In a device of the character described,

means for intermittently and substantially instantaneously exhibiting within the direct field of vision and in the direction of reading of a person a plurality of fixation indicia in spaced progression and sequence, means for successively blanking out the previously exhibited indicia with each successive exhibition of new indicia whereby the eyes following said exhibitions will break fusion at one point and move through a predetermined angle and establish fusion at an advanced point spaced therefrom in the direction of reading, said blanking out means being so formed as to leave no formed character in the blanked out portion for the eyes to regress to,

whereby the eyes may follow through said predetermined angle with the movement thereof simulating their movement during reading, means for halting for a definite period said successive exhibitions whereby the eyes may move from one exposure to another in step by step progression in rhythmic motion, means for successively changing the indicia at the completion of said intermittent and successive exhibitions and means for repeating said intermittent and successive exhibitions whereby a successive repetition of changing the indicia and intermittently and successively exhibiting and blanking out said indicia occurs.

14. In a device of the character described, means for intermittently and substantially instantaneously exhibiting within the direct field of vision and in the direction of reading of a person a plurality of fixation indicia in spaced progression and sequence, means for successively blanking out the previously exhibited indicia with each successive exhibition of newindicia whereby the eyes following said exhibitions will break fusion at one point and move through a predetermined angle and establish fusion at an advanced point spaced therefrom in the direction of reading, said blanking out means being so formed as to leave no formed character in the blanked out portion for the eyes to regress to, whereby the eyes may follow through said predetermined angle with the movement thereof simulating their movement during reading, means for halting for a definite period said successive exhibitions whei'e by the eyes may move from one exposure to another in step by step progression in rhythmic motion, and means for varying the speed of said intermittent and successive exhibitions.

15. A method comprising intermittently and momentarily exhibiting a plurality 'of fixation indicia in spaced progression and sequence in the direction of reading of a person and in the direct field of vision of said person and substantially along a straight line substantially transverse to the line of straight ahead vision of said person's eyes, continuing each exhibition of indicia for a limited period, and successively blanking out the previously exhibited indicia with each successive exhibition of new indicia without leaving any formed character in view in the blanked out portion for the eyes to regress to, whereby the eyes following said exhibition will break fusion at one point and move through a predetermined angle and establish fusion at an advanced point spaced therefrom in the direction of reading for instantaneous perception of each exhibited indicia in sequence and in step by step progression in rhythmic motion.

16. A method comprising intermittently and momentarily exhibiting a plurality of fixation indicia in spaced progression and sequence in the direction of reading of a person and in the direct field of vision of said person and substantially along a straight line substantially transverse to the line of straight ahead vision of said person's eyes, continuing each exhibition of indicia for a limited period, and successively blanking out the previously exhibited indicia with each successive exhibition of new indicia without leaving any formed character in view in the blanked out portion for the eyes to regress to, and so that the area blanked out is contiguous to the new area exhibited, whereby the eyes following said exhibition will break fusion at one point and move through a predetermined angle and establish fusion at an advanced point spaced therefrom in thedirection of reading for instantaneous perceptlon of each exhibited indicia in sequence and in step by step progression in rhythmic motion.

17. A method comprising intermittently andmomentarily exhibiting a plurality of fixation indicia in spaced progression and sequence in the direction of reading of a personandin thedlrect field of vision oi'sald person and substantially along astraight line substantially transverse to the line of straight ahead vision of said person's I eyes. continuing each exhibition of indicia for a limited period, and successively blanking out the previously exhibited indicia with each successive 'exhibition of new indicia without leaving any formed character in view in the blanked out portion for the eyes to regress to, whereby the eyes following said exhibition will break fusion at one point and move through a predetermined angle and establish fusion at an advanced point spaced therefrom in the direction of reading for instantaneom perception of each exhibited indicia in sequence and in step by step progression in some viously exhibited indicia with each successive exhibition of new indicia without leaving any formed character in view in the blanked out portion for the eyes to regress to, whereby the eyes following said exhibition will break fusion at one point and move through a predetermined angle and establish fusion at an advanced point spaced therefrom in the direction of reading for instantaneous f perception oi each exhibited indicia in'sequence and in step by step progression in rhythmic motion, and changing the speed of said intermittent exhibitions. I I r 19. A method comprising intermittently and momentarily exhibiting a plurality of; fixation indicia in spaced progression and sequence in the direction of reading oi a person and in the direct field of vision oi said person and substantially alonga straight line substantially transverse to the line oi straight ahead vision of said person's eyes, continuing each exhibition oi indicia for a limited period. and successively blanking out the previously exhibited indicia with *mch successive exhibition 0! new indicia without leaving any formed character invlew in the blanked out portion for the eyes to regress to, whereby the eyes following 'said exhibition will break fusion at one point and move through a predetermined angle and establish fusion at an advanced point spaced therefrom in the direction, of reading for instantaneous perception of each exhibited indicia in sequence and in step by step msr ssion in rhythmic motion with at least a portion of one section of indicia always exposed to-view, the characters of said indicia being related in reading context.

' JAMES Y. TAYLOR; 

